Juniperus rigida Siebold et Zucc.

Можжевельник твёрдый/Needle juniper

Сем. Кипарисовые - Cupressaceae

It has the most outstanding appearance of the Far Eastern junipers and represents the only tree-like juniper.

The typical juniper is a tree with pyramidal crown; reaching height not greater than 10-12 m and diameter of the stem base of 50-60 cm. It forms an outstretched shrub with a crown diameter of up to 4 m on sandy and rocky coastal lines. Lives for 300 years and longer.

Each whorl contains three dark-green, rigid, very prickly, awl-shaped, three-edged needles, up to 28 (30) mm in length and 1 mm in width. Needles turn brown in winter.

Nearly black, blue-greyish, light-fleshy “cone-berries” contain seeds.

Grows individually or in groups on the rocky slopes, cliffs and rock edges and occasionally on sandy seashores. Prefers rich drift soils above limestone with good drainage.

Entered in the “USSR Red Book” and “RSFSR Red Book”.

Distribution in the Russia's Far East. Southern Primorsky Krai.

General distribution. Inner Mongolia, Northern and Northeastern China, Korean Peninsula, Japan.

Authors: M.N. Chipizubova, L.M. Pshennikova

Photo: L. Pshennikova, Chipizubova M., N. Razzhigaeva

Collage: E.V. Bibchenko